"Wasshethegreatestsingeryoueverheard？"
　　Wunschnoddedgravely。"Quiteso。Shewasthemost——"hehuntedforanEnglishword，liftedhishandoverhisheadandsnappedhisfingersnoiselesslyintheair，enunciatingfiercely，"KUNST—LER—ISCH！"Thewordseemedtoglitterinhisupliftedhand，hisvoicewassofullofemotion。
　　Wunschrosefromthestoolandbegantobuttonhiswaddedjacket，preparingtoreturntohishalf—heatedroomintheloft。Thearegretfullyputonhercloakandhoodandsetoutforhome。
　　WhenWunschlookedforhisscorelatethatafternoon，hefoundthatTheahadnotforgottentotakeitwithher。
　　Hesmiledhisloose，sarcasticsmile，andthoughtfullyrubbedhisstubblychinwithhisredfingers。WhenFritzcamehomeintheearlybluetwilightthesnowwasflyingfaster，Mrs。KohlerwascookingHASENPFEFFERinthekitchen，andtheprofessorwasseatedatthepiano，playingtheGluck，whichheknewbyheart。OldFritztookoffhisshoesquietlybehindthestoveandlaydownontheloungebeforehismasterpiece，wherethefirelightwasplayingoverthewallsofMoscow。Helistened，whiletheroomgrewdarkerandthewindowsduller。Wunschalwayscamebacktothesamething：——
　　"ACH，ICHHABESIEVERLOREN，
　　EURIDICE，EURIDICE！"
　　FromtimetotimeFritzsighedsoftly。He，too，hadlostaEuridice。
　　XI
　　OneSaturday，lateinJune，Theaarrivedearlyforherlesson。Assheperchedherselfuponthepianostool，——awobbly，old—fashionedthingthatworkedonacreakyscrew，——shegaveWunschasideglance，smiling。"Youmustnotbecrosstometo—day。Thisismybirthday。"
　　"So？"hepointedtothekeyboard。
　　AfterthelessontheywentouttojoinMrs。Kohler，whohadaskedTheatocomeearly，sothatshecouldstayandsmellthelindenbloom。Itwasoneofthosestilldaysofintenselight，wheneveryparticleofmicainthesoilflashedlikealittlemirror，andtheglarefromtheplainbelowseemedmoreintensethantheraysfromabove。Thesandridgesranglitteringgoldouttowherethemiragelickedthemup，shiningandsteaminglikealakeinthetropics。
　　Theskylookedlikebluelava，foreverincapableofclouds，——aturquoisebowlthatwasthelidofthedesert。AndyetwithinMrs。Kohler’sgreenpatchthewaterdripped，thebedshadallbeenhosed，andtheairwasfreshwithrapidlyevaporatingmoisture。
　　Thetwosymmetricallindentreesweretheproudestthingsinthegarden。Theirsweetnessembalmedalltheair。Ateveryturnofthepaths，——whetheronewenttoseethehollyhocksorthebleedingheart，ortolookatthepur—
　　plemorning—gloriesthatranoverthebean—poles，——wher—
　　everonewent，thesweetnessofthelindensstruckoneafreshandonealwayscamebacktothem。Undertheroundleaves，wherethewaxenyellowblossomshung，beviesofwildbeeswerebuzzing。Thetamariskswerestillpink，andtheflower—bedsweredoingtheirbestinhonorofthelindenfestival。Thewhitedove—housewasshiningwithafreshcoatofpaint，andthepigeonswerecrooningcontentedly，
　　flyingdownoftentodrinkatthedripfromthewatertank。
　　Mrs。Kohler，whowastransplantingpansies，cameupwithhertrowelandtoldTheaitwasluckytohaveyourbirthdaywhenthelindenswereinbloom，andthatshemustgoandlookatthesweetpeas。Wunschaccompaniedher，andastheywalkedbetweentheflower—bedshetookThea’shand。
　　"ESFLUSTERNUNDSPRECHENDIEBLUMEN，"——
　　hemuttered。"YouknowthatvonHeine？IMLEUCHTENDEN
　　SOMMERMORGEN？"HelookeddownatTheaandsoftlypressedherhand。
　　"No，Idon’tknowit。WhatdoesFLUSTERNmean？"
　　"FLUSTERN？——towhisper。Youmustbeginnowtoknowsuchthings。Thatisnecessary。Howmanybirthdays？"
　　"Thirteen。I’minmy’teensnow。ButhowcanIknowwordslikethat？Ionlyknowwhatyousayatmylessons。
　　Theydon’tteachGermanatschool。HowcanIlearn？"
　　"Itisalwayspossibletolearnwhenonelikes，"saidWunsch。Hiswordswereperemptory，asusual，buthistonewasmild，evenconfidential。"Thereisalwaysaway。
　　Andifsomedayyouaregoingtosing，itisnecessarytoknowwelltheGermanlanguage。"
　　Theastoopedovertopickaleafofrosemary。HowdidWunschknowthat，whentheveryrosesonherwall—paperhadneverheardit？"ButamIgoingto？"sheasked，stillstooping。
　　"Thatisforyoutosay，"returnedWunschcoldly。"YouwouldbettermarrysomeJACOBhereandkeepthehouseforhim，may—be？Thatisasonedesires。"
　　Theaflashedupathimaclear，laughinglook。"No，I
　　don’twanttodothat。Youknow，"shebrushedhiscoat—
　　sleevequicklywithheryellowhead。"OnlyhowcanI
　　learnanythinghere？It’ssofarfromDenver。"
　　Wunsch’slooselowerlipcurledinamusement。Then，asifhesuddenlyrememberedsomething，hespokeseriously。
　　"Nothingisfarandnothingisnear，ifonedesires。The
　　worldislittle，peoplearelittle，humanlifeislittle。Thereisonlyonebigthing——desire。Andbeforeit，whenitisbig，allislittle。ItbroughtColumbusacrosstheseainalittleboat，UNDSOWEITER。"Wunschmadeagrimace，tookhispupil’shandanddrewhertowardthegrapearbor。"Here—
　　afterIwillmorespeaktoyouinGerman。Now，sitdownandIwillteachyouforyourbirthdaythatlittlesong。Askmethewordsyoudonotknowalready。Now：IMLEUCH—
　　TENDENSOMMERMORGEN。"
　　Theamemorizedquicklybecauseshehadthepoweroflisteningintently。Inafewmomentsshecouldrepeattheeightlinesforhim。Wunschnoddedencouraginglyandtheywentoutofthearborintothesunlightagain。Astheywentupanddownthegravelpathsbetweentheflower—
　　beds，thewhiteandyellowbutterflieskeptdartingbeforethem，andthepigeonswerewashingtheirpinkfeetatthedripandcrooningintheirhuskybass。OverandoveragainWunschmadehersaythelinestohim。"Youseeitisnothing。IfyoulearnagreatmanyoftheLIEDER，youwillknowtheGermanlanguagealready。WEITER，NUN。"Hewouldinclinehisheadgravelyandlisten。
　　"IMLEUCHTENDENSOMMERMORGEN
　　GEH’ICHIMGARTENHERUM；
　　ESFLUSTERNUNDSPRECHENDIEBLUMEN，ICHABER，ICHWANDTESTUMM。
　　"ESFLUSTERNUNDSPRECHENDIEBLUMEN
　　UNDSCHAU’NMITLEIDIGMICHAN：
　　`SEIUNSERERSCHWESTERNICHTBOSE，DUTRAURIGER，BLASSERMANN！’"
　　（Inthesoft—shiningsummermorningIwanderedthegardenwithin。
　　Theflowerstheywhisperedandmurmured，ButI，Iwandereddumb。
　　Theflowerstheywhisperandmurmur，Andmewithcompassiontheyscan：
　　"Oh，benotharshtooursister，Thousorrowful，death—paleman！"）
　　Wunschhadnoticedbeforethatwhenhispupilreadanythinginversethecharacterofhervoicechangedalto—
　　gether；itwasnolongerthevoicewhichspokethespeechofMoonstone。Itwasasoft，richcontralto，andshereadquietly；thefeelingwasinthevoiceitself，notindicatedbyemphasisorchangeofpitch。Sherepeatedthelittleversesmusically，likeasong，andtheentreatyoftheflowerswasevensofterthantherest，astheshyspeechofflowersmightbe，andsheendedwiththevoicesuspended，almostwitharisinginflection。Itwasanature—voice，Wunschtoldhim—
　　self，breathedfromthecreatureandapartfromlanguage，likethesoundofthewindinthetrees，orthemurmurofwater。
　　"Whatisittheflowersmeanwhentheyaskhimnottobeharshtotheirsister，eh？"heasked，lookingdownathercuriouslyandwrinklinghisdullredforehead。
　　Theaglancedathiminsurprise。"Isupposehethinkstheyareaskinghimnottobeharshtohissweetheart——orsomegirltheyremindhimof。"
　　"AndwhyTRAURIGER，BLASSERMANN？"
　　Theyhadcomebacktothegrapearbor，andTheapickedoutasunnyplaceonthebench，whereatortoise—shellcatwasstretchedatfulllength。Shesatdown，bendingoverthecatandteasinghiswhiskers。"Becausehehadbeenawakeallnight，thinkingabouther，wasn’tit？Maybethatwaswhyhewasupsoearly。"
　　Wunschshruggedhisshoulders。"Ifhethinkaboutherallnightalready，whydoyousaytheflowersremindhim？"
　　Thealookedupathiminperplexity。Aflashofcompre—
　　hensionlitherfaceandshesmiledeagerly。"Oh，Ididn’tmean`remind’inthatway！Ididn’tmeantheybroughthertohismind！Imeantitwasonlywhenhecameoutinthemorning，thatsheseemedtohimlikethat，——likeoneoftheflowers。"
　　"Andbeforehecameout，howdidsheseem？"
　　ThistimeitwasTheawhoshruggedhershoulders。The
　　warmsmileleftherface。Sheliftedhereyebrowsinannoy—
　　anceandlookedoffatthesandhills。
　　Wunschpersisted。"Whyyounotanswerme？"
　　"Becauseitwouldbesilly。Youarejusttryingtomakemesaythings。Itspoilsthingstoaskquestions。"
　　Wunschbowedmockingly；hissmilewasdisagreeable。
　　Suddenlyhisfacegrewgrave，grewfierce，indeed。Hepulledhimselfupfromhisclumsystoopandfoldedhisarms。"Butitisnecessarytoknowifyouknowsomethings。Some—
　　thingscannotbetaught。Ifyounotknowinthebeginning，younotknowintheend。Forasingertheremustbesome—
　　thingintheinsidefromthebeginning。Ishallnotbelonginthisplace，may—be，andIliketoknow。Yes，"——hegroundhisheelinthegravel，——"yes，whenyouarebarelysix，youmustknowthatalready。Thatisthebeginningofallthings；DERGEIST，DIEPHANTASIE。Itmustbeinthebaby，whenitmakesitsfirstcry，likeDERRHYTHMUS，oritisnottobe。Youhavesomevoicealready，andifinthebeginning，whenyouarewiththings—to—play，youknowthatwhatyouwillnottellme，thenyoucanlearntosing，may—be。"
　　Wunschbegantopacethearbor，rubbinghishandsto—
　　gether。Thedarkflushofhisfacehadspreadupundertheiron—graybristlesonhishead。Hewastalkingtohimself，nottoThea。Insidiouspowerofthelindenbloom！"Oh，muchyoucanlearn！ABERNICHTDIEAMERICANISCHENFRAU—
　　LEIN。Theyhavenothinginsidethem，"strikinghischestwithbothfists。"TheyareliketheonesintheMAR—
　　CHEN，agrinningfaceandhollowintheinsides。Some—
　　thingtheycanlearn，oh，yes，may—be！Butthesecret——
　　whatmaketherosetored，theskytoblue，themantolove——INDERBRUST，INDERBRUSTitis，UNDOHNEDIESESGIEBTES
　　KEINEKUNST，GIEBTESKEINEKUNST！"Hethrewuphissquarehandandshookit，allthefingersapartandwagging。Purpleandbreathlesshewentoutofthearborandintothehouse，withoutsayinggood—bye。TheseoutburstsfrightenedWunsch。Theywerealwaysharbingersofill。
　　Theagothermusic—bookandstolequietlyoutofthegarden。Shedidnotgohome，butwanderedoffintothesanddunes，wherethepricklypearwasinblossomandthegreenlizardswereracingeachotherintheglitteringlight。
　　Shewasshakenbyapassionateexcitement。ShedidnotaltogetherunderstandwhatWunschwastalkingabout；
　　andyet，inawaysheknew。Sheknew，ofcourse，thattherewassomethingaboutherthatwasdifferent。Butitwasmorelikeafriendlyspiritthanlikeanythingthatwasapartofherself。Shethoughteverythingtoit，anditan—
　　sweredher；happinessconsistedofthatbackwardandfor—
　　wardmovementofherself。Thesomethingcameandwent，sheneverknewhow。Sometimesshehuntedforitandcouldnotfindit；again，sheliftedhereyesfromabook，orsteppedoutofdoors，orwakenedinthemorning，anditwasthere，——
　　underhercheek，itusuallyseemedtobe，oroverherbreast，——akindofwarmsureness。Andwhenitwasthere，everythingwasmoreinterestingandbeautiful，evenpeople。
　　Whenthiscompanionwaswithher，shecouldgetthemostwonderfulthingsoutofSpanishJohnny，orWunsch，orDr。Archie。
　　Onherthirteenthbirthdayshewanderedforalongwhileaboutthesandridges，pickingupcrystalsandlookingintotheyellowprickly—pearblossomswiththeirthousandsta—
　　mens。ShelookedatthesandhillsuntilshewishedsheWEREasandhill。Andyetsheknewthatshewasgoingtoleavethemallbehindsomeday。Theywouldbechangingalldaylong，yellowandpurpleandlavender，andshewouldnotbethere。Fromthatdayon，shefelttherewasasecretbetweenherandWunsch。Togethertheyhadliftedalid，pulledoutadrawer，andlookedatsomething。Theyhiditawayandneverspokeofwhattheyhadseen；butneitherofthemforgotit。
　　XII
　　OneJulynight，whenthemoonwasfull，Dr。Archiewascomingupfromthedepot，restlessanddiscon—
　　tented，wishingthereweresomethingtodo。Hecarriedhisstrawhatinhishand，andkeptbrushinghishairbackfromhisforeheadwithapurposeless，unsatisfiedgesture。
　　AfterhepassedUncleBillyBeemer’scottonwoodgrove，thesidewalkranoutoftheshadowintothewhitemoon—
　　lightandcrossedthesandgullyonhighposts，likeabridge。
　　Asthedoctorapproachedthistrestle，hesawawhitefigure，andrecognizedTheaKronborg。Hequickenedhispaceandshecametomeethim。
　　"Whatareyoudoingoutsolate，mygirl？"heaskedashetookherhand。
　　"Oh，Idon’tknow。Whatdopeoplegotobedsoearlyfor？I’dliketorunalongbeforethehousesandscreechatthem。Isn’titgloriousouthere？"
　　Theyoungdoctorgaveamelancholylaughandpressedherhand。
　　"Thinkofit，"Theasnortedimpatiently。"Nobodyupbutusandtherabbits！I’vestarteduphalfadozenof’em。
　　Lookatthatlittleonedowntherenow，"——shestoopedandpointed。Inthegullybelowthemtherewas，indeed，alittlerabbitwithawhitespotofatail，crouchingdownonthesand，quitemotionless。Itseemedtobelappingupthemoonlightlikecream。Ontheothersideofthewalk，downintheditch，therewasapatchoftall，ranksunflowers，theirshaggyleaveswhitewithdust。Themoonstoodoverthecottonwoodgrove。Therewasnowind，andnosoundbutthewheezingofanenginedownonthetracks。
　　"Well，wemayaswellwatchtherabbits。"Dr。Archiesatdownonthesidewalkandlethisfeethangoverthe
　　edge。HepulledoutasmoothlinenhandkerchiefthatsmelledofGermancolognewater。"Well，howgoesit？
　　Workinghard？YoumustknowaboutallWunschcanteachyoubythistime。"
　　Theashookherhead。"Oh，no，Idon’t，Dr。Archie。
　　He’shardtogetat，buthe’sbeenarealmusicianinhistime。Mothersaysshebelieveshe’sforgottenmorethanthemusic—teachersdowninDenvereverknew。"
　　"I’mafraidhewon’tbearoundheremuchlonger，"saidDr。Archie。"He’sbeenmakingatankofhimselflately。
　　He’llbepullinghisfreightoneofthesedays。That’sthewaytheydo，youknow。I’llbesorryonyouraccount。"
　　Hepausedandranhisfreshhandkerchiefoverhisface。
　　"Whatthedeuceareweallhereforanyway，Thea？"hesaidabruptly。
　　"Onearth，youmean？"Theaaskedinalowvoice。
　　"Well，primarily，yes。Butsecondarily，whyareweinMoonstone？Itisn’tasifwe’dbeenbornhere。Youwere，butWunschwasn’t，andIwasn’t。IsupposeI’mherebecauseImarriedassoonasIgotoutofmedicalschoolandhadtogetapracticequick。Ifyouhurrythings，youalwaysgetleftintheend。Idon’tlearnanythinghere，andasforthepeople——InmyowntowninMichigan，now，therewerepeoplewholikedmeonmyfather’saccount，whohadevenknownmygrandfather。Thatmeantsomething。Buthereit’salllikethesand：blowsnorthonedayandsouththenext。We’reallalotofgamblerswithoutmuchnerve，playingforsmallstakes。Therailroadistheonerealfactinthiscountry。Thathastobe；theworldhastobegotbackandforth。Buttherestofusareherejustbecauseit’stheendofarunandtheenginehastohaveadrink。
　　SomedayI’llgetupandfindmyhairturninggray，andI’llhavenothingtoshowforit。"
　　Theaslidclosertohimandcaughthisarm。"No，no。
　　Iwon’tletyougetgray。You’vegottostayyoungforme。
　　I’mgettingyoungnow，too。"
　　Archielaughed。"Getting？"
　　"Yes。Peoplearen’tyoungwhenthey’rechildren。LookatThor，now；he’sjustalittleoldman。ButGushasasweetheart，andhe’syoung！"
　　"Somethinginthat！"Dr。Archiepattedherhead，andthenfelttheshapeofherskullgently，withthetipsofhisfingers。"Whenyouwerelittle，Thea，Iusedalwaystobecuriousabouttheshapeofyourhead。Youseemedtohavemoreinsideitthanmostyoungsters。Ihaven’texamineditforalongtime。Seemstobetheusualshape，butuncom—
　　monlyhard，somehow。Whatareyougoingtodowithyourself，anyway？"
　　"Idon’tknow。"
　　"Honest，now？"Heliftedherchinandlookedintohereyes。
　　Thealaughedandedgedawayfromhim。
　　"You’vegotsomethingupyoursleeve，haven’tyou？
　　Anythingyoulike；onlydon’tmarryandsettledownherewithoutgivingyourselfachance，willyou？"
　　"Notmuch。See，there’sanotherrabbit！"
　　"That’sallrightabouttherabbits，butIdon’twantyoutogettiedup。Rememberthat。"
　　Theanodded。"BenicetoWunsch，then。Idon’tknowwhatI’ddoifhewentaway。"
　　"You’vegotolderfriendsthanWunschhere，Thea。"
　　"Iknow。"Theaspokeseriouslyandlookedupatthemoon，proppingherchinonherhand。"ButWunschistheonlyonethatcanteachmewhatIwanttoknow。I’vegottolearntodosomethingwell，andthat’sthethingIcandobest。"
　　"Doyouwanttobeamusic—teacher？"
　　"Maybe，butIwanttobeagoodone。I’dliketogotoGermanytostudy，someday。Wunschsaysthat’sthebestplace，——theonlyplaceyoucanreallylearn。"Theahesi—
　　tatedandthenwentonnervously，"I’vegotabookthatsaysso，too。It’scalled`MyMusicalMemories。’Itmademe
　　wanttogotoGermanyevenbeforeWunschsaidanything。
　　Ofcourseit’sasecret。You’rethefirstoneI’vetold。"
　　Dr。Archiesmiledindulgently。"That’salongwayoff。
　　Isthatwhatyou’vegotinyourhardnoddle？"Heputhishandonherhair，butthistimesheshookhimoff。
　　"No，Idon’tthinkmuchaboutit。Butyoutalkaboutgoing，andabodyhastohavesomethingtogoTO！"
　　"That’sso。"Dr。Archiesighed。"You’reluckyifyouhave。PoorWunsch，now，hehasn’t。Whatdosuchfellowscomeoutherefor？He’sbeenaskingmeaboutmyminingstock，andaboutminingtowns。Whatwouldhedoinaminingtown？Hewouldn’tknowapieceoforeifhesawone。He’sgotnothingtosellthataminingtownwantstobuy。Whydon’tthoseoldfellowsstayathome？Wewon’tneedthemforanotherhundredyears。Anenginewipercangetajob，butapianoplayer！Suchpeoplecan’tmakegood。"
　　"MygrandfatherAlstromwasamusician，andhemadegood。"
　　Dr。Archiechuckled。"Oh，aSwedecanmakegoodany—
　　where，atanything！You’vegotthatinyourfavor，miss。
　　Come，youmustbegettinghome。"
　　Thearose。"Yes，IusedtobeashamedofbeingaSwede，butI’mnotanymore。Swedesarekindofcommon，butI
　　thinkit’sbettertobeSOMETHING。"
　　"Itsurelyis！Howtallyouaregetting。Youcomeabovemyshouldernow。"
　　"I’llkeepongrowing，don’tyouthink？Iparticularlywanttobetall。Yes，IguessImustgohome。Iwishthere’dbeafire。"
　　"Afire？"
　　"Yes，sothefire—bellwouldringandtheroundhousewhistlewouldblow，andeverybodywouldcomerunningout。SometimeI’mgoingtoringthefire—bellmyselfandstirthemallup。"
　　"You’dbearrested。"
　　"Well，thatwouldbebetterthangoingtobed。"
　　"I’llhavetolendyousomemorebooks。"
　　Theashookherselfimpatiently。"Ican’treadeverynight。"
　　Dr。Archiegaveoneofhislow，sympatheticchucklesasheopenedthegateforher。"You’rebeginningtogrowup，that’swhat’sthematterwithyou。I’llhavetokeepaneyeonyou。Nowyou’llhavetosaygood—nighttothemoon。"
　　"No，Iwon’t。Isleeponthefloornow，rightinthemoon—
　　light。Mywindowcomesdowntothefloor，andIcanlookattheskyallnight。"
　　Sheshotroundthehousetothekitchendoor，andDr。
　　Archiewatchedherdisappearwithasigh。Hethoughtofthehard，mean，frizzylittlewomanwhokepthishouseforhim；oncethebelleofaMichigantown，nowdryandwitheredupatthirty。"IfIhadadaughterlikeTheatowatch，"hereflected，"Iwouldn’tmindanything。Iwon—
　　derifallofmylife’sgoingtobeamistakejustbecauseI
　　madeabigonethen？Hardlyseemsfair。"
　　HowardArchiewas"respected"ratherthanpopularinMoonstone。Everyonerecognizedthathewasagoodphysician，andaprogressiveWesterntownlikestobeabletopointtoahandsome，well—set—up，well—dressedmanamongitscitizens。ButagreatmanypeoplethoughtArchie"distant，"andtheywereright。Hehadtheuneasymannerofamanwhoisnotamonghisownkind，andwhohasnotseenenoughoftheworldtofeelthatallpeopleareinsomesensehisownkind。Heknewthateveryonewascuriousabouthiswife，thatsheplayedasortofcharacterpartinMoonstone，andthatpeoplemadefunofher，notverydelicately。Herownfriends——mostofthemwomenwhoweredistastefultoArchie——likedtoaskhertocon—
　　tributetochurchcharities，justtoseehowmeanshecouldbe。Thelittle，lop—sidedcakeatthechurchsupper，thecheapestpincushion，theskimpiestapronatthebazaar，werealwaysMrs。Archie’scontribution。
　　Allthishurtthedoctor’spride。Butiftherewasonethinghehadlearned，itwasthattherewasnochangingBelle’snature。Hehadmarriedameanwoman；andhemustaccepttheconsequences。EveninColoradohewouldhavehadnopretextfordivorce，and，todohimjus—
　　tice，hehadneverthoughtofsuchathing。ThetenetsofthePresbyterianChurchinwhichhehadgrownup，thoughhehadlongceasedtobelieveinthem，stillinfluencedhisconductandhisconceptionofpropriety。Tohimtherewassomethingvulgaraboutdivorce。Adivorcedmanwasadisgracedman；atleast，hehadexhibitedhishurt，andmadeitamatterforcommongossip。RespectabilitywassonecessarytoArchiethathewaswillingtopayahighpriceforit。Aslongashecouldkeepupadecentexterior，hecouldmanagetogeton；andifhecouldhaveconcealedhiswife’slittlenessfromallhisfriends，hewouldscarcelyhavecomplained。Hewasmoreafraidofpitythanhewasofanyunhappiness。Hadtherebeenanotherwomanforwhomhecaredgreatly，hemighthavehadplentyofcour—
　　age；buthewasnotlikelytomeetsuchawomaninMoon—
　　stone。
　　TherewasapuzzlingtimidityinArchie’smake—up。Thethingthatheldhisshouldersstiff，thatmadehimresorttoamirthlesslittlelaughwhenhewastalkingtodullpeople，thatmadehimsometimesstumbleoverrugsandcarpets，haditscounterpartinhismind。Hehadnotthecouragetobeanhonestthinker。Hecouldcomforthimselfbyeva—
　　sionsandcompromises。Heconsoledhimselfforhisownmarriagebytellinghimselfthatotherpeople’swerenotmuchbetter。InhisworkhesawprettydeeplyintomaritalrelationsinMoonstone，andhecouldhonestlysaythattherewerenotmanyofhisfriendswhomheenvied。Theirwivesseemedtosuitthemwellenough，buttheywouldneverhavesuitedhim。
　　AlthoughDr。Archiecouldnotbringhimselftoregardmarriagemerelyasasocialcontract，butlookeduponitas
　　somehowmadesacredbyachurchinwhichhedidnotbe—
　　lieve，——asaphysicianheknewthatayoungmanwhosemarriageismerelynominalmustyetgoonlivinghislife。